Syntax of Hessian Dialects (SyHD)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jürg Fleischer
• Subject Area: General and Comparative Linguistics, Experimental Linguistics, Typology, Non-European Languages
• Term: from 2010 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 172208696

On the basis of the indirectly and directly collected data from the project's first phase, phase II of the Syntax of the Hessian Dialects (SyHD) will generate two central end products: an expert system for the syntax of Hessian dialects ("SyHD-expert") and a large body of scientific analyses of the collected language data as well as of the data collection methods developed and applied in SyHD.The expert system for the Hessian dialects ("SyHD-expert")The dialect data collected and classified in project phase I will form the basis for the comprehensive expert system for the Hessian dialects, which will be made available online. "SyHD-expert" will consist of two central elements:- "SyHD-data": the entire set of SyHD-related data will be collected, classified, and annotated in a databank constructed specifically for this purpose. These data will then be made available for analysis via various possible queries using linguistic and extralinguistic indices. The output of these queries will be presented as diagrams and tables as well as in various compatible databank formats.- "SyHD-maps": In the second phase of the project, the central syntax-geographical findings based on the SyHD-data will be published online. Georeferencing of the language maps will enable all SyHD-maps to be directly compared both with each another as well as with other georeferenced maps via translucent overlays (blending). Additionally, it will be possible to elicit information from the databank using SyHD's base map by activating SyHD-locations with the mouse. Finally, special tools will allow users to modify SyHD-maps and to chart phenomena based on their own particular research queries.Analyses of Hessian dialect syntaxAs in the first phase of the project, the second phase will see continued analyses of the collected syntax data in various linguistic disciplines. In accordance with the specializations of this grant's applicants, the data will be subjected to historical and variational linguistic anaylses as well as analyses in the area of theoretical syntax, the results of which will be published in scientific journals and edited volumes. In the context of SyHD, eight dissertations and two habilitations will be completed that either substantially or in their very essence rely on the data from SyHD. Additionally, at least five papers will be published in relevant scientific journals with peer reviewing policies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria
• Participating Persons: Professorin Dr. Alexandra N. Lenz; Professor Dr. Helmut Weiß